Hate for Muslim, Hate for Mullah, Hate for Zia, Hate for Pakistan… But label: hate for None.

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Shaykh Hamza Yusuf on Qadianis and Lahoris

If any scholar can be described as “moderate”, it’s Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. He, like many enlightened scholars, is not drawn to takfir, and is as inclusive as it gets. However, when it comes to drawing a line, his opinion is to be respected and he recently clarified his position on both the Qadiani and Lahori sects.

Al-Azhar has ruled that both sects are outside of Islam, and I accept the ruling of the former rector and mufti, Shaykh Al-Azhar, Gad al-Haqq, may God have mercy on him. I am very cautious of takfir, but if a body as meticulous as Al-Azhar issues an official position about a group, we are obliged to concede to them. I have great respect for the balance and moderate tradition that Al-Azhar represents and know that they do not take takfirlightly. Hence, I defer such judgment to them, and retract my previous statement. As the saying goes, “The people of Mecca are more familiar with their mountain trails.”

Clearly, Shaykh Hamza accepts the ruling of Al-Azhar, who themselves are inclusive and not inclined to takfirism.

We urge all readers to read Shaykh Hamza Yusuf’s piece on Qadianis and Lahoris. There can be absolutely no doubt that all the schools of Islam consider Ahmadiyya not just outside the pale of Islam, but a fitna. With the recent hate-stirring, trouble-making piece in the Guardian, it’s clear that Ahmadiyya’s biggest aim is to cause trouble, to increase sectarian tension and to throw mud against the mainstream body of Islam. Shaykh Hamza lets us know in no uncertain terms that no matter what the Qadianis claim, that their religion is not Islam and never can be.